Football contracts drove a trading record at Polymarket US in October 2026, as the platform processed more than 74 million trades—a 15% increase from September. Expanded NFL and college football markets led the surge, alongside growing use of bundled prediction contracts introduced in August.
Key takeaways
- October trade counts rose 15% from September.
- Bundled contracts exceeded half of platform activity in some weeks.
- Monthly active traders hit a record of about 478,000.
- Kalshi reported $19 billion in weekly contract volume in October.
Sports contracts drive Polymarket US’s trading record
Expanded NFL and college football contracts were the main drivers of October’s trading increase. In one week during the month, Polymarket US recorded $2.82 billion in notional volume, while daily and weekly totals frequently reached hundreds of millions of dollars.
Notional volume measures the face value of the contracts traded, rather than the platform’s revenue. It is a separate measure from the number of trades processed.
The October figures followed a strong September, when the platform recorded $8.8 billion in total volume, its previous monthly high.
Bundled predictions account for a growing share of activity
In certain weeks, parlay-style and combo contracts made up more than 50% of activity on Polymarket US. The platform introduced those products in August 2026, adding a sports-focused format ahead of October’s surge.
A parlay combines several predictions into a single position. Every component must succeed for the position to pay out, increasing both the risk and the potential reward.
The trading record at Polymarket US therefore came alongside both an expansion in football contracts and substantial use of its bundled products.
Active traders rise under CFTC oversight
Monthly active traders reached approximately 478,000 in October, the highest figure recorded by Polymarket US. Weekly trading volume also rose from less than $100 million early in 2026 to billions of dollars by October.
Launched in late 2025, the platform operates under the supervision of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This regulatory standing enables it to provide event contracts to users in the US within a compliant structure.
The activity figures reflect trading in regulated contracts, rather than volume supported by native-token incentives or on-chain trading mechanics.
Kalshi competition accelerates product development
Kalshi is Polymarket US’s most direct competitor in regulated prediction markets, with both platforms competing for US users. That rivalry is pushing the two businesses to introduce products faster; Polymarket US’s August parlay launch targeted sports-minded participants.
Sports contracts have been a central source of growth for Polymarket US, while Kalshi has also posted record activity. For one week in October 2026, Kalshi posted $19 billion in contract volume.
Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.